Door prop



Feb. 9, i937. o. N. GREDELI.

DOOR PROP Filed Jan. 17, 1935 www INM!! Patented Feb. 9, 1937 STATS PATENT OFFICE DOOR PROP Application January 17, 1935, Serial No. 2,215

8 Claims.

This invention relates to door props and more particularly to one for supporting the door of a truck tank can box in open position. Usually such doors are hinged at their upper edge and swing outwardly and upwardly to open position and it has been found difficult to securely latch them in open position. Consequently many accidents are caused from wind whipping under and raising the door, thereby releasing the latch mechanism, or from accidental disengagement of the latch mechanism by the operator of the door.

This type of door, however, has been found most convenient, since when open, it is entirely out of the way and permits ready removal of articles from the can box, particularly the hose which is used in dispensing the liquids from the tank.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the gopresent invention to provide for automatically and securely latching a door of this character in open position so that it cannot be accidentally tripped or blown closed in windy weather.

In accomplishing this and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a truck tank and can box having a door equipped with a prop mechanism embodying the features of the present invention and showing the door in open position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the can box -showing the door in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view showing the door in open position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View illustrating one of the prop guides.

4:0.l Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the door on the line 5 5, Fig. 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

I designates a truck tank having a can box 2 secured toI the rear end thereof and including front and rear walls 3 and 4, side walls 5 and 6 and a rounded top wall l to form an enclosure for containing cans and other accessories used about the tank I.

Formed in the front wall 2 of the can box is a door opening 8 extending in height from adjacent the bottom 9 thereof to a point adjacent the top wall TI and in width from points spaced inwardly of the side walls 5 and 6. The door opening is bounded with a frame formed in part by inwardly flanging the edges of the front Wall 3, as at IIl, to overlie the inner edge II of an inner reinforcing frame I2 which surrounds the door opening 8. The lower portions of the side flanges I0 terminate at the sides of the opening in inwardly extending anges I3 and I4 that 5 form stops against which the door I5 abuts when in closed position.

The door I5 includes a frame I6 of suitable shape and dimensions to be received within the opening 8 and the frame IB is covered by a sheet 10 I1 which lies in the plane of the front Wall 3 when the door is closed as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The upper edge I8 of the door is provided with hinges I9 secured to the inner ange 2U of the header 2i that is incorporated in the frame l5 i2. The door I5 is thus adapted to swing outwardly and upwardly and requires a bracing means or prop to hold it in open position so that the operator can remove the articles from the can rack without interference by the door. 20

As above pointed out, it is the purpose of the present invention to provide an improved prop mechanism whereby the door can be securely latched in open position without danger of accident, as now Ato be described. 25

Extending across the width of the door intermediate the height thereof is a cross bar 22 and located at the ends thereof are bearing brackets 23 'having flanges 24 that are secured I by fastening `devices. 25 extending through suit- 30 able openings in the flanges and into the bar as best shown in Fig. 3.

Rotatably mounted in the bearing portions 2G of the brackets is the cross bar portion 21 of a prop 28 which also includes arm portions 35 V29 and 3D depending laterally from the ends of the cross bar portion, the arm portions being braced therefrom by angular braces 3| and 32 extending diagonally across the angles formed between the arm and bar portions of the prop 4o as best shown in Fig. 1. It is'thus apparent that the arm portions 26 are rigidly braced from the bar portion so as to retain the ends thereof in plane with the bar portion 21.

It is desirable that the prop be of rigid and yet 45 light construction, and it is preferably formed of tubular material.

Extending outwardly and laterally of the free ends of the arms 29 and 30 are guide engaging members 33 and 34 comprising pins having ends 35 extending through suitable openings in the ends of the arms and welded therein as indicated at 36, Fig. 5, to support the outer ends 31 thereof in guide engagingposition and with the axis of 55 one pin in direct alignment with the axis of the other pin.

Fixed to the side members of the inner frame I2 are guides 38 comprising bars 39 and 49 that are spaced from the flanges I3 and I4 by angle clips 4I and 42 having flanges 43 welded to side edges of the bars, as indicated at 44, and having flanges secured to the side members of the inner frame I2 by fastening devices 46 extending through openings 4l therein and through aligning openings 48 in the side members, as shown in Fig. 5.

The upper ends of the strips 39 and 40 are bent adjacent the upper ends of the flanges I3 and I4 at an angle as at 52 and then inwardly as at 53 to close the upper ends of the guides and to connect therewith the anges I3 and I4 as at.

54. rThe inturned ends of the strips thus form stops 55 to limit upward movement of the guide pins when the door is moved to its open position.

YFixed within the vupper end of the channels vand extending in parallel relation with the inclined portion 52 of the strips are inserts 56 having their upper -ends terminating short of the stops 55 to form passageways 51 therebetween for the guide pins so that they can be moved thereacross for seating in pockets`58 formed between the upper ends of the inserts and the flanges I3 and I4 as shown in Fig. 4. The bottoms of the pockets are closed by horizontal inserts 59 having the ends thereof welded to the insert 55 and the flanges I3 and I4 preferably at suitable distances below the passageways 51 so that the pockets have sulcient depth to locate the pins 33 and 34 entirely therein and out of the passageways as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

When the dooris moved to open position, the guide pins will ride up the channel shaped guides until they engage with the inclined portions of the inserts 55; however, continued opening of the door will cause the pins to ride over theupper ends of the inserts, whereupon they move through the passageways 51. Upon passing the ends of the inserts, further upward movement of the door will cause the pins` to move into stopping engagement with the angle 60 formed by the juncture of the upper ends of the flange I3 with the inturned ends of the bars 39 and 40. Then, when the pressure on the door is released,

`the pins will drop by gravity into the pockets 58 to retain the free end of the prop arms in securely latched position. r

When in this position, it is impossible to accidentally release the door without rst lifting the props so that the pins can be moved over the projecting ends of the inserts and through the passageways 51.

Should a gust of wind engage under the door to effect lifting thereof, the pins will rst engage within the angle stops 60 to thereby limit upward movement of the door. However, when lifting pressure on the door is released, the weight of the arms under gravitational inuence of the door will elfect return of the pins to their original seating position in the pockets, again maintaining the door in open position.

To shut the door, the arms must be raised until the pins engage the inturned ends 55 of the bars 39 and 40, whereupon they will readily pass through the ways 51 into the upper ends of the guide grooves. Upon once entering the guide grooves, the pins are free to move downwardly therein under the propelling influence of the door and allow` closing thereof.

In order to assist in raising the arms of the prop, when closing the door, the cross bar portion 24 thereof is preferably provided with a depending handle portion 6I which lies in the plane of the arms as best illustrated in Fig. 1. By grasping the handle portion and pushing it back toward the door, both arms can be readily raised to disengage the pins from the pockets.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a door prop which is simple in construction and easily operated and yet rigidly retains the door in open position to prevent accidental closing thereof that might cause injury to the operator working in and about the can box.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination with a door hinged at its upper end and adapted to open upwardly and outwardly from closed position, a guide at one side of the door having a guide portion extending substantially parallel with the door when in closed position and provided with a portion at its upper end inclined upwardly away from the door, said guide having a lateral passageway at the upper end of the inclined portion ofthe guide, means cooperating with said inclined portion to form a pocket below said lateral passageway at the upper end of the guide, a door prop, means hinging the door prop to the door, and laterally extending guide engaging means on the prop slidably engaging said guide portion when the door is moved to and from open position and adapted to pass through said lateral passageway to drop into said pocket to latch the door when the door is in open position.

2. In combination with a door hinged at its upper end and adapted to open upwardly and outwardly from closed position, a guide at one side of the door having a guide portion extending substantially parallel with the door when in closed position and provided with an inclined portion at its upper end, a member cooperating with said `guide portion to form a channel shaped track therebetween and terminating short of the guide portion to provide a passageway extending laterally ofthe track, means forming a pocket at the end of said passageway, a prop, means hinging the prop to the door, and laterally extending guide engaging means on the prop slidable in the track and through said passageway to engage in said pocket when the door is moved to open position.

3. In combination with a door frame having inwardly extending flange portions, a door hinged at its upper end to the frame and adapted to open upwardly and outwardly from seated engagement with the flanges, guide members cooperating with the frame flanges to form guide tracks therebetween and having inclined portions extending away from said frame anges at the upper ends thereof, inclined inserts at the upper end of the guide members and cooperating with vthe frame flanges to form pockets at the upper ends of the guide members, angular stops located above the pockets, a door prop having a cross bar portion and laterally extending arm portions, laterally extending pins Von the ends of the arm portions engaged in said guide tracks and adaptedto seat in said pockets, and means for hinging the cross bar portion of the prop to the door.

4. In combination with a door frame, a door hinged at its upper end to the frame and adapted to open upwardly and outwardly from closed position, a, guide fixed at one side of the door frame and having a guide portion extending substantially parallel with the door when in closed position and provided with a portion at its upper end inclined outwardly relatively to the door, means cooperating with said inclined portion to form an upwardly opening pocket at the upper end of the guide, a door prop, means hinging the door prop to the door, and laterally extending guide engaging means on the prop slidably engaging said guide portion when the door is moved to and from open position and engageable in said pocket to latch the door when the door is in open position.

5. In combination with a door frame provided with inwardly extending iianges, a door hinged to the frame at its upper end and adapted to open upwardly and outwardly from seated engagement with said flanges, bars cooperating with the frame ilanges to form guide tracks therebetween and having inclined portions extending away from said frame flanges at the upper ends thereof, angle clips spacing the bars from said flanges, means forming pockets at the upper ends of the flanges, arms pivotally connected with the door, and laterally extending pins on the ends of the arms engaged in said guide tracks and adapted to seat in said pockets.

6. In combination with a door hinged at its upper end and adapted to open upwardly and outwardly from closed position, a guide at one side of the door having a lateral passageway at its upper end extending from the guide toward said door, means forming a pocket between the upper end of the guide and the door at a point below said passageway, a door prop, means hinging the door prop to the door, and means on the end of the door prop slidable in the guide and adapted to pass through said lateral passageway and into said pocket upon movement of the door to open position to latch the door in said upwardly and outwardly hinged position, said pocket having a depth to locate said slidable means completely within said pocket and out of said lateral passageway when the door is open,

7. In combination with a door frame having a door opening and a door closing said opening, means hinging the upper end of the door to the outer side of said frame whereby the door is adapted to open upwardly and outwardly from closed position, a guide on the inner side of the frame and offset inwardly from a vertical plane passing through said hinging point of the door and having a lateral passageway at its upper end extending toward the door, means forming a pocket between the upper end of the guide and the door at a point below said passageway, a door prop, means hinging the door prop tothe door, and means on the end of the prop slidable in the guide and adapted to pass through said lateral passageway and into s'aid pocket for latching the door when the door is moved to open position, said lateral passageway having an angular stop formed above said pocket to engage said slidable means when the door is raised above its normal open position. v

8. In combination with a door hinged at its upper end and adapted to open upwardly and outwardly from closed position, a guide at one side of the door having a lateral passageway at its upper end, means cooperating with the guide to form a pocket below said lateral passageway and extending downwardly in substantially parallel relation with the upper end of the guide, a door prop connected with the door, and means on the door prop slidable in the guide and adapted to pass through said lateral passageway and seat in said pocket when the door is in open position, said pocket `having a depth to locate said slidable means within the pocket and below said passageway when the door is open and supported by said prop.

OTTO N. GREDELL. 

